Variable feed-motion for flaming-machines



(No Model.)

J. ROBERTS.

VARIABLE FEED MOTION FOR PLANING MACHINES.

No. 831,449. Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

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WITNESSES 61 ill/VE/l/TOH m By Afforney N Finns. Phuwunm nm. Wilshmgluu. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIEBQ JAMES ROBERTS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

VARIABLE FEED-MOTION FOR PLANlNG-iVlACl-HNESQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331.449, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed August 22, 1885. Serial No. 175,120. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES ROBERTS, of Brooklyn, (Green Point,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable Feed-Motions for Planing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a variable feed-motion for planing-machines, by which the speed of the machine can be changed while the same is running; and the invention consists of a number of gear-wheels of different sizes placed on the driving-shaft, meshing with corresponding gear-wheels of different sizes placed loosely on an auxiliary shaft, from which motion is transmitted by a fixed pinion and intermediate gearing to the different feed-rolls and other parts of the machine. Any one of the loose transmitting gear-wheels is locked to the auxiliary shaft by means of the laterally-movable clutch devices, which are arranged intermediately between said gear-wheels, and are operated by shifting-rods and suitable clutch-levers, said levers being engaged by a slotted and recessed locking-plate, so that when one lever is operated the other is locked, so as to protect the clutches and transmitting-gears against injury.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of a planing-machine with my improved variable feed-motion; Fig. 2, a plan of the variable feed-motion, partly in horizontal section, and drawn on alarger scale; and Figs. 3 and 4 are details, respectively, of the locking-plate and the clutch device for the transmitting-gears.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a planing-machine of any approved construction, the driving-shaft Bof which is extended beyond the supporting-frame A of the planing-machine, and supported at the outer end by a floor-stand, A which also serves to support an auxiliary shaft, B, parallel to the driving-shaft B.

On the extended outer end of the drivingshaft B are arranged, preferably, four gearwheels, I) b 1) o of gradually-increasing diameter, that mesh with corresponding gearwheels, (I d d (F, of decreasing diametergplaeed loosely on the auxiliary shaft B, the inner end of which turns in journal bearings of the frame A of the planing-machine.

V WVhen the machine is in motion,the four sets of gear-wheels b d b d b d b d" are rotated, without, however, imparting rotary motion to the auxiliary shaft B. The latter is provided with a pinion, D, that is keyed to the shaft next to the supporting-frame A of the planing-machine and placed in mesh with suitable transmitting-gearing, whereby motion is imparted to the feed-rolls and other parts of the planing-machine, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner sets of gear-wheels, 1) cl and d are arranged closely together, so that a larger space is provided between the same and the outer gear-whee1s,b d and 1) (1 for permitting the arrangement of two clutch devices, E E, between the gears bcland b d and b d" and b" (1 Each clutch device E is composed of a circumferentiallygrooved disk, 6, that is splined to the shaft B, so as to be capable of longitudinal motion thereon, but rotate with the same. In the circumferential groove of the disk 6 is guided a movable ring, 0', that is connected by set-screws g to the ends of a fork, g, the shank of which is attached by a sleeve, 9', to a laterally-shifting rod, f.

The disks 6 e are provided at both sides with lugs e that engage corresponding lugs, 6 of the gear-wheels d d or d (2 respectively, as shown in Fig. 2, according as the diskse eare shifted to one side or the other by the shifting-rods f.

Each clutch device E is provided with a separate shifting-rod, f, which is connected by an intermediate bell-crank lever, f, and leverrod to a fulcrumed clutch-lever, F. The levers F are arranged at the end of the planing-machine and guided in longitudinal slots f of the locking-plate H, that is capable of lateral motion by short slots. h on fixed pins 71. of the supporting-frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The longitudinal slots f have angular portions f and recesses f at their middle parts, which serve to shift the plate Hby the action of either clutch-lever and to lock the other clutch-lever. By moving either clutchlever forward or back its clutch device is shifted and thrown into gear with one of the loose gear-wheels on the auxiliary shaft, so as to producethereby the rotation of the auxiliary shaft and of the feed-rolls at a certain speed. While the clutch-lever is moved in the slot f of the plate H, the lever engages the inclined middle part of the longitudinal slot f and shifts the lockingplate H, so that the opposite lever Fis engaged by the recess f of the other slot f and rigidly locked in position and prevented from shifting its clutch device. In this manner the shifting of one clutch is accomplished without interference with the other clutch, so that only one set of gear-wheels can be thrown into mesh with the clutch at the time, and thereby the auxiliary shaft and the feed-rolls rotated at the required speed with out injury or damage to the other clutch device or motion-transmitting gears.

By means of the four sets of gear-wheels and two clutch devices the machine can be run at four different speeds, while by arranging six sets of gear-wheels and three clutch devices it can be run at six different speeds by means of a simple and reliable feed-motion that is not liable to get out of order and easily operated by the attendant.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. The combination of the driving-shaft of a planing-machine having transmitting gearwheels of increasing size, an auxiliary shaft having loose gear-wheels of decreasing size meshing with the corresponding gear-wheels of the driving-shaft, a transmitting-pinion keyed to said auxiliary shaft, clutch devices interposed between adjoining sets of gearwheels, and lever mechanisms whereby the clutch devices are thrown into gear with one of the sets of transmitting gear-wheels, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a drivingshaft having fixed gear-wheels of increasing size, an auxiliary shaft having loose gear-wheels of decreasing size that mesh with the corresponding gear-wheels of the driving-shaft, a transmitting-pinion keyed to the auxiliary shaft, intermediate clutch devices interposed between adjoining sets of gear-wheels, shifting rods and levers for actuating each clutch device, and a laterally-shifting locking-plate having longitudinal slots with central recesses, whereby one shifting-lever is locked when the other lever is set, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

- PAUL GoErEL, CARL KARP. 

